On the latest ICAEW Insights podcast, we explore how accountants can go about approaching some of the year’s most challenging professional issues. World events have moved quickly this year. Successive waves of sanctions against Russia and the return of M&A activity – as well as the subsequent spike in conflict-of-interest queries – have meant that accountants are increasingly needing to make sense of grey areas. With accountants typically used to being the ones with the answers, who assists them when the path forward is unclear? Enter the ICAEW Technical and Ethics helpdesk. Host Philippa Lamb is joined by David Stevens and Cerys Freemantle, professional consultants at the helpdesk, to make sense of these tricky topics and provide advice on next steps where there is no clear right answer. Links ICAEW Technical and Ethics helpdesk https://www.icaew.com/membership/support-throughout-your-career/technical-and-ethics-support ICAEW Ukraine crisis central resource hub https://www.icaew.com/insights/insights-specials/ukraine-crisis-central-resource-hub ICAEW guidance on the UK’s ban of the provision of accountancy services to Russia https://www.icaew.com/regulation/aml-supervision/aml-resources/guidance-on-the-uk-ban-of-the-provision-of-accountancy-services--to-russia  ICAEW client screening service https://www.icaew.com/library/guide-to-services/client-screening  ICAEW financial reporting helpsheets https://www.icaew.com/technical/tas-helpsheets/financial-reporting  ICAEW guidance: Identifying and managing conflicts https://www.icaew.com/-/media/corporate/files/technical/ethics/icaew-guidance-identifying-and-managing-conflicts.ashx?la=en Host Philippa Lamb Guests David Stevens, professional consultant, ICAEW Cerys Freemantle, professional consultant, ICAEW Producer Natalie Chisholm  Episode first published: 13 October 2022 Podcast recorded: 6 October 2022